Transfer
TSV and Koji Itagaki will part ways from July
TSV Bad Königshofen will not be renewing the contract of Bundesliga head coach Koji Itagaki, which expires at the end of the season. The parting of ways following the current 2025/2026 season marks the end of an era spanning almost ten years. After such a long period working with the same coach, the club’s management is seeking a new sporting direction.
Details of the split
Although Koji Itagaki was extremely successful on the pitch (two playoff appearances), it has become clear in recent years that the vision and identity of TSV Bad Königshofen no longer align with Itagaki’s own. “As a close-knit club, values such as team spirit and a sense of connection to the town and region are important to us. We no longer felt this with Koji Itagaki. When there is a lack of mutual understanding of the club’s values, this carries more weight at TSV than purely sporting results,” says sporting director Andy Albert. Koji Itagaki’s German language barriers were also a decisive obstacle to his deep integration into the club.
The decision not to renew the contract is not based on sporting expertise, but is the result of a strained relationship with the club’s grassroots and management.
The new coach must be a good fit on a personal level
Discussions with a potential successor are already at an advanced stage. The new coach will be expected to balance not only Bundesliga football but also grassroots sport. Youth development and grassroots sport are of enormous importance to TSV Bad Königshofen, which is why the club wishes to work with a coach who shares these values in future. TSV Bad Königshofen is pursuing a strategy of rejuvenating the squad surrounding its licensed team.
Source: Bad Königshofen (Photo: Hansruedi Lüthi)
